WOLLASTON GP Dr John Firth admitted to being overwhelmed by goodwill after announcing his retirement.

Dr Firth will sign off at the Lion Health in Lowndes Road today (Thursday).

He was the resident GP at Meriden Avenue for 25 years and became a well-known figure in the community.

Dr Firth arrived in Stourbridge in 1984 as a partner to Dr George Martin in Wollaston High Street before transferring to the purpose-built Meriden Avenue practice.

Born and bred in Barnsley, he trained at Birmingham Medical School and spent 12 years working in local hospitals before going into GP training.

He said: "It was the Irish connection which brought me to Stourbridge. It was known that once I'd finished my GP training, I would be looking for a practice and that's how Dr Martin got in touch.

"During my years in Wollaston, I must have treated three generations of the same family on many occasions. When I first joined Dr Martin we were struggling for numbers.

"By the time Meriden Avenue closed last year, I had 2,500 patients on the books. As you can imagine, I didn't get many holidays.

"I've been letting patients know for the past month that I intend to retire at the end of March. I always said that once the Lion Health centre became established it would be the right time to go. A large number of my friends have already retired and I just felt the time was right.

"But I've been absolutely overwhelmed by people's good wishes and generosity once news of my retirement became known."

Dr Firth, aged 64, who lives in Blakedown, now plans a rest and to improve his golf handicap. He is a member at both Churchill and Blakedown plus Enville Golf Clubs.

He has also offered to help out at the Lion Health centre with minor surgery one morning a week.